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encumbrance she secured his independence； and prevented all future
disputes by separating his interests from those of her children。 She
hoped to see him happy until she closed her eyes on earth； and she
studied to transmit the tenderness of her own heart to Marguerite；
trusting that his daughter might continue to be to him an angel of
love； while exercising over the family a protecting and conservative
authority。 Might she not thus shed the light of her love upon her dear
ones from beyond the grave？ Nevertheless； she was not willing to lower
the father in the eyes of his daughter by initiating her into the
secret dangers of his scientific passion before it became necessary to
do so。 She studied Marguerite's soul and character； seeking to
discover if the girl's own nature would lead her to be a mother to her
brothers and her sister； and a tender； gentle helpmeet to her father。
Madame Claes's last days were thus embittered by fears and mental
disquietudes which she dared not confide to others。 Conscious that the
recent scene had struck her death…blow； she turned her thoughts wholly
to the future。 Balthazar； meanwhile； now permanently unfitted for the
care of property or the interests of domestic life； thought only of
the Absolute。
The heavy silence that reigned in the parlor was broken only by the
monotonous beating of Balthazar's foot； which he continued to trot；
wholly unaware that Jean had slid from his knee。 Marguerite； who was
sitting beside her mother and watching the changes on that pallid；
convulsed face； turned now and again to her father； wondering at his
indifference。 Presently the street…door clanged； and the family saw
the Abbe de Solis leaning on the arm of his nephew and slowly crossing
the court…yard。
〃Ah！ there is Monsieur Emmanuel；〃 said Felicie。
〃That good young man！〃 exclaimed Madame Claes； 〃I am glad to welcome
him。〃
Marguerite blushed at the praise that escaped her mother's lips。 For
the last two days a remembrance of the young man had stirred
mysterious feelings in her heart； and wakened in her mind thoughts
that had lain dormant。 During the visit made by the Abbe de Solis to
Madame Claes on the occasion of his examining the pictures； there
happened certain of those imperceptible events which wield so great an
influence upon life； and their results were sufficiently important to
necessitate a brief sketch of the two personages now first introduced
into the history of this family。
It was a matter of principle with Madame Claes to perform the duties
of her religion privately。 Her confessor； who was almost unknown in
the family； now entered the house for the second time only； but there；
as elsewhere； every one was impressed with a sort of tender admiration
at the aspect of the uncle and his nephew。
The Abbe de Solis was an octogenarian； with silvery hair； and a
withered face from which the vitality seemed to have retreated to the
eyes。 He walked with difficulty； for one of his shrunken legs ended in
a painfully deformed foot； which was cased in a species of velvet bag；
and obliged him to use a crutch when the arm of his nephew was not at
hand。 His bent figure and decrepit body conveyed the impression of a
delicate； suffering nature； governed by a will of iron and the spirit
of religious purity。 This Spanish priest； who was remarkable for his
vast learning； his sincere piety； and a wide knowledge of men and
things； had been successively a Dominican friar； the 〃grand
penitencier〃 of Toledo； and the vicar…general of the archbishopric of
Malines。 If the French Revolution had not intervened； the influence of
the Casa…Real family would have made him one of the highest
dignitaries of the Church； but the grief he felt for the death of the
young duke； Madame Claes's brother； who had been his pupil； turned him
from active life； and he now devoted himself to the education of his
nephew； who was made an orphan at an early age。
After the conquest of Belgium； the Abbe de Solis settled at Douai to
be near Madame Claes。 From his youth up he had professed an enthusiasm
for Saint Theresa which； together with the natural bent of his mind；
led him to the mystical time of Christianity。 Finding in Flanders；
where Mademoiselle Bourignon and the writings of the Quietists and
Illuminati made the greatest number of proselytes； a flock of
Catholics devoted to those ideas； he remained there；all the more
willingly because he was looked up to as a patriarch by this
particular communion； which continued to follow the doctrines of the
Mystics notwithstanding the censures of the Church upon Fenelon and
Madame Guyon。 His morals were rigid； his life exemplary； and he was
believed to have visions。 In spite of his own detachment from the
things of life； his affection for his nephew made him careful of the
young man's interests。 When a work of charity was to be done； the old
abbe put the faithful of his flock under contribution before having
recourse to his own means； and his patriarchal authority was so well
established； his motives so pure； his discernment so rarely at fault；
that every one was ready to answer his appeal。 To give an idea of the
contrast between the uncle and the nephew； we may compare the old man
to a willow on the borders of a stream； hollowed to a skeleton and
barely alive； and the young man to a sweet…brier clustering with
roses； whose erect and graceful stems spring up about the hoary trunk
of the old tree as if they would support it。
Emmanuel de Solis； rigidly brought up by his uncle； who kept him at
his side as a mother keeps her daughter； was full of delicate
sensibility； of half…dreamy innocence；those fleeting flowers of
youth which bloom perennially in souls that are nourished on religious
principles。 The old priest had checked all sensuous emotions in his
pupil； preparing him for the trials of life by constant study and a
discipline that was almost cloisteral。 Such an education； which would
launch the youth unstained upon the world and render him happy；
provided he were fortunate in his earliest affections； had endowed him
with a purity of spirit which gave to his person something of the
charm that surrounds a maiden。 His modest eyes； veiling a strong and
courageous soul； sent forth a light that vibrated in the soul as the
tones of a crystal bell sound their undulations on the ear。 His face；
though regular； was expressive； and charmed the eye with its clear…cut
outline； the harmony of its lines； and the perfect repose which came
of a heart at peace。 All was harmonious。 His black hair； his brown
eyes and eyebrows； heightened the effect of a white skin and a
brilliant color。 His voice was such as might have been expected from
his beautiful face； and something feminine in his movements accorded
well with the melody of its tones and with the tender brightness of
his eyes。 He seemed unaware of the charm he exercised by his modest
silence； the half…melancholy reserve of his manne